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Online now: 2 members: Paturzo, conman1313; 8 anonymousDiscussion: Verbal Obstruction or Interference
| Posted | Discussion |
| May 24 Mike14 2 posts | Is there anything in the rules that covers verbal obstructions or interference? In our senior SB game last night a base runner during a play was yelling home home, hoping to get a fielder to throw the game away so he could advance a base. The umpire assigned said it was bush league but not against the rules. What would happen if a player yells foul for example which is a word reserved for an umpire and it causes a fielder to stop running after a ball allowing the offense to advance to further bases? |
| May 25 B.J. 1107 posts | mike14.. I actually had that happen where the catcher had a senior moment and yelled foul and the ball landed right on the line.. I called time and awarded the batter 1B and scored the runner on 2B because there were 2 outs at the time and in my judgment would have scored... |
| May 25 Rob64 Men's 50 210 posts | why "because there were 2 outs"? |
| May 25 B.J. 1107 posts | Because with 2 outs the runner took off as soon as the ball was hit .. not waiting to see if the OF could make a catch |
| May 26 Scott Harder Men's 60 49 posts | Not sure I like your call here BJ. It's the runners responsibility to keep running if there are 2 outs, he needs to keep going until he sees the umpire's call because as you said our senior eyes may trick us. Also, people, myself included, say all kinds of stupid things during the course of a play, I would hate to think anyone actually listened and changed their actions as a result. Think about how many times people tell someone chasing a ball and saying "you've got room" or "out of play" and their wrong. I say, Run until your coach or the umpire says to stop running. Certainly never going to listen to a catcher, he probably told your batter to swing too, which was clearly a mistake. I would let the results of the play stand. |
| May 26 B.J. 1107 posts | scott.. the catcher has no right to yell foul ball that is the umpires job.. when he yelled it both the batter and the runner on 2B stopped running assuming it was the HP umpire who made the call |
| May 26 Guppy7325 15 posts | Look in the rule book under conduct or detrimental conduct to the game. That the catch all for these issue. In the umpires opinion he feels that because someone other than himself has called the situation. He can entitle whatever solution to be fair. That excludes ejection if warranted. |
| May 28 Turning2 Men's 70 204 posts | Scott - BJ and Guppy have clearly defined proper call and procedure. Both 1.45 Interference and 1.48 Obstruction definitions make no differentiation between physical or verbal act that impedes the opponent by definition. |
| May 28 Paul C Men's 75 6 posts | Additional info to support BJ and Grumpy, umpires and others. Sometimes ASA rules become the guidelines when specific rules fall short. Below are some rules specific to this play: ASA Rule Supplement or Point of Emphasis 33: Interference is defined as the act of an offensive player or team member which impedes, hinders or causes a defensive player attempting to execute a play. It may be in the form of physical contact, verbal distraction or any type of distraction which would hinder the fielder in the execution of the play. SPA 2020 Rule Book Definitions Sec. 40 INTERFERENCE: The act of an offensive team member, which impedes, hinders or confuses a defensive player while attempting to execute a play. If judged so by the umpire, vocal interference may be called against any player (s) whether on the field or in the dugout area. Federation Softball Rules Section 2 Definitions Section 32 Art 1 Interference is an act (physical or verbal) by a member of the team at bat who illegally impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder…. |
| June 1 Scott Harder Men's 60 49 posts | Just to clarify.. I don't believe the call was not commensurate with the rules; great call that took courage to make. What I am saying is the runner should not have stopped running according to basic fundamentals for playing the game. It seems like he forced a call to be made that was not really needed. With 2 outs, I'm running until someone stops me. Also, I've done a lot worse, not out of trying to be deceptive, but as a verbal cheerleader and I assume no one listens or cares what I might say; because you never know. HOWEVER, my real pet peeve is how players make mistakes and then hope the umpires bail them out. Until the players play perfect, why do we expect the umpires to be perfect? How many times have you seen a team make 5 errors in an inning and them blow up over a borderline call? |
| June 1 Scott Harder Men's 60 49 posts | So... what if it wasn't the catcher who yelled? What if it was a fan in the stands directly behind the catcher and everyone thought it was the catcher? |
| June 1 B.J. 1107 posts | Scott.. With the catcher standing right next to or behind the Umpire I would certainly hope he would know who yelled it.. if it did come from the stands I would have play on |
| June 1 Turning2 Men's 70 204 posts | Scott - i agree with your statement, with two outs, batter should be off at the crack of the bat. you state the runner somehow forced a call to be made? dont understand that comment. the reality is, ball is hit, runners are running, and THE INSTANT that "foul ball" is called out loudly from the home plate area, this verbal order/instruction/ruling, call it what you like affects everything from that point forward. Most runners would pull up or at least slow down thus their progress has been obstructed by the defense calling out "foul ball" Umpire then rules on where runners would end up, based on his best judgment, of runners, fielders, ball position and directs the end result of the play. he would then admonish the catcher and explain to both catcher and manager the error and note that further rule infringements could result in removal from the game. |
